BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept
BMW hosted a lengthy press conference during which cars zoomed all around its raised track, and at the end the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept silently took the stage. It's a glass-topped Hot Wheels with two engines, a deep dish seventies-looking steering wheel and matching contoured wheels. Around the back corners the design elements get a little busy, but taken as a whole the EfficientDynamics Concept comes together well. Give it a more demure paint job and its built-in details will stand out beautifully. If this is the real future of eco, then sign us up schnell.
2010 BMW 5 Series GT
The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo took a whirl on the plinth and we have to admit it doesn't look the least bit absurd standing in person. We completely forgot to be offended at the fact we're being handed this instead of the perfectly fantastic 5 Series Sport Wagon. At least, until we played around with the dual-action lift gate -- then the word "gimmick" did flit through our cranial region for a moment.
Still, it's not bad, and on the road it looks like it has the potential to get a whole lot better. As the Hesse-novel-length press release after the jump explains, the car will combine the legroom of the 7 Series, head room of the X5, 59.5 cubic feet of storage space, and a base diesel with 245 hp and 43 mpg. Go for gold, and there's a V8 twin turbo with 407 hp and a 5.5-second run to 60.
Marussia B2 B1
When we hear the phrase "Russian Supercar" we initially think of either a turbocharged tank or something made from wallpaper, powered by fictional hubris yet somehow still finished in mirrored chrome. Any of which would come with his and hers full length mink coats. However, the two Marussia models present something of a dilemma to this way of thinking. They are not awful. In fact, viewed from a distance, there's much to like. Sure, up close they're a tad rough (check out the exposed screws, lumpen metal over the door hinges and Pep Boys reflectors), but they're really not bad. Which is good, if you can pardon our Orwellian wording.
Our real gripe, besides not knowing bupkis about what's under the hood (some sort of Renault/Nissan V6 coupled to electronic components from... somewhere), is that the designs are a bit derivative. Aggressive as all get out, certainly, but we've seen them before. The B1 has the stance of a Pagani Zonda, while the B2 is a mix of Apollo Gumpert and Aston Martin Rapide with a smattering of Lamborghini Reventon tossed in for flavor. But as Woody Allen said, "Always be original. But if you must steal, steal from the best." Marussia is (predictably) a little mum on the details, but we can assume the same mystery motor in the B1 powers the B2.
2010 Volkswagen CC R
Oh Volkswagen. How is it that the automaker of the people makes what just might be the sleekest, sexiest sedan in the world? No offense to A-M's Rapide, but the Volkswagen CC is not a two-door coupe with a stretch and some rear-doors grafted on. The CC is clean sheet, or at least as clean sheet as the Passat's hard points allow for. And now with the CC R, it's even better looking. And no, we're still not buying the four-door coupe marketing nonsense, no matter how many times someone quotes Wikipedia at us. The CC R is dreamboat sedan.
Let's get the obvious out of the way: CC R – tee hee hee. We can't imagine the "there's a bad moon on the right" jokes ever ceasing. That's mindless naming conventions for you. Aside from that, the R badge (or R-line as they call it here in the land of yummy sausage, pickled everything and friendly, frisky fr?uleins) is very identical to Audi's S-line. So all show and no go.
Volkswagen Golf R20
The Volkswagen R20 returns some brawn to the styling of the body Golf after a lengthy flirtation with smaller, svelter lines. And we, for one, are happy about it. Things get started right up front with the lower grille and it's Audi-RS-and-R8-reminiscent openings and strakes. From there it's an easy flow back over a body a-bulge with just the right taste in creases and lines. We're still waiting for a less hipster tailpipe treatment to return, but we're happy with the car nevertheless. The interior gets the trim-and-texture treatment to identify it as a 270-hp flyer, and the seats complete the job by letting your butt feel what your eyes can see. Speaking of feeling, those earlier 60-mph runs were a little off: the manual gets to 62 in 5.7, the DSG in 5.5.
Facelifted 2010 Volvo C30
When you're an auto journalist blogger, you're constantly, incessantly bombarded with a series of questions. Usually it's, "What's the best car you've ever driven?" (Personal answer: Superformance Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, followed by blank stares.) The other question we get more frequently than, "How you doing?" is, "What car should I buy?" Sorta like the initial question, we have a a few boilerplate responses. One of them just happens to be the sadly invisible but highly desirable Volvo C30. Really, if you're in the market for a small, stylish car under $30K, you can't do much better. Usually, we're totally ignored. Though one friend did heed our advice -- she also happens to own a 1972 Datsun 240Z. In other words, a woman with taste.
For 2010 Volvo has updated the C30. The biggest change is that the small hatch's snout is now up to snuff with its rear. We especially dig the new grill (also seen on the 2010 C70). Kinda looks like an upside down Aston Martin front end, no? The long, arching headlights are major improvement, too. We even like the the mirrors. Inside, the song remains very much the same -- think icy, Scando fortress of solitude. And of course, the rear end is as killer looking as ever. Sure it harkens back to the P1800's stern, but the C30's isn't slavishly derivative. In fact, the 2010 model's reworked bumper makes it look even better. Long story short, as long as Volvo's around, we'll keep recommending the C30.
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